Wednesday, 31 March 2010

The Human Rights; chair Abbas Mohammadi of CAW, the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada has written to the Japanese consul Mr Sasaki in Vancouver in support of Jamal.(Please click on the letter to open in a more readable format)

Farideh Bozorg, the president of the Iranian-Canadian Centre in Victoria, Canada has written to the Japanese consulate in Vancouver in support of Jamal's release from detention and to grant him refugee status.(Please click on the letter to open in a more readable format)

Our man in Japan, Farshad Hosseini has had indeed eventful days since his arrival in Tokyo on Monday.First of all he met several of Jamal's friends and supporters in Tokyo and had a long meeting with them to discuss their plans.

Today was very busy with protests and press conferences:

12 noon: Farshad attends the first protest outside the immigration detention headquarters in Tokyo where Jamal is held. More than 50 people participated in the protest, which was organised by friends and supporters of Jamal and other human rights activists. There were Japanese and English language banners in support of asylum seekers. Many journalists and cameracrews had come to report on the protest.

Simultaneously there was a protest of hundreds of detainees with protest signs from inside the building against the immigration authorities' treatment of refugees and the issues in the detention centres. Three Japanese human rights activists went into the building and met with immigration authorities to discuss the situation of the detained refugees.

3pm: Farshad went to the UN’s offices where special rapporteur Jorge Bustamante's press conference was held. Farshad reports that Mr Bustamante’s finding of the situation of migrants in Japan indicates that there are indeed serious issues that need to be addressed by the Japanese government, but more to come on this.

At the press conference Farshad gave a report on Jamal's situation. He afterwards spoke to Mr Bustamante in more detail and was interviewed by several journalists on Jamal’ situation and in connection with this the huma rights situation in Iran. 4pm: Second protest of the day in front of the Ministry of Justice building.

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Pascal Descamp on behalf of the CGT Union for the workers of ADDSEA in France sent the following letter to the Japanese ambassador in Paris and to the consul in Strasbourg. In the letter they draw attention to the ongoing human rights violations of the Islamic regime of Iran and demand that Jamal Saberi be released, his deportation order revoked and he be granted refugee status.

Bernard Trotereau on behalf of the Union of SUD Social and Health workers from the Doubs, France sent the following letter to the Japanese ambassador in Paris and to the Japanese consul in Strasboug in support of Jamal. They state that deporting Jamal to Iran would mean as a minimum imprisonment and torture and likely his execution. They demand Jamal's release and that his deportation order be cancelled. They also urge the Japanese government to grant him refugee status.

In addition to our automatic service of sending a protest letter, we now also have a petition online. You can sign it here

and here is the petition text:

To: Japanese Ministry of Justice & UNHCR Japan

I am writing to express my strongest concern over the fate of Jamal Saberi (Jalal Ahmadzade-Nouei) who is currently in detention in Tokyo and is going to be deported to Iran from Japan.

Jamal Saberi is a well-known political opponent of the Islamic Regime of Iran and has been a human rights activist for 18 years in Japan. Jamal Saberi’s safety and life would be in danger if he were to be returned to Iran.

Japan’s effort to forcibly return an Iranian political activist constitutes a violation of the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits forcibly returning a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened.

Jamal Saberi has suffered two heart attacks while he was previously detained in Japanese detention centres.

I urge the Japanese Immigration Authorities to immediately release him and cancel his deportation order. Mr. Saberi has a well-founded fear of persecution by the Islamic regime. He warrants recognition as a political refugee and merits protections under UN agreements on the Status of Refugees, to which Japan is a signatory.

I am awaiting your immediate intervention in this life-threatening situation. Needless to say, UNHCR and the Japanese government will be held accountable for Jamal Saberi's life and freedom.

Mission Free Iran staged their second protest today in support of Jamal in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington DC. The slogan for this protest was a very aptly titled: JAPAN! Give Cherry Trees, Not Refugees! FREE JAMAL SABERI – JALAL AMANZADEH NOUEI

On Monday, 22 March, Suleiman Sigarchy from the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) Vancouver branch has had a meeting with the office of Don Davies, member of Parliament from the New Democratic Party to inform them about the situation of Jamal Saberi and urged them to support Jamal's release from detention. Watch this space for an update of action.

On March 26, Suleiman contacted the Members of Parliament in Canada on behalf of IFIR with a request to lobby the Japanese embassy in Ottawa about Jamal. Here is his letter:

To Member of Parliaments

House of CommonsOttawa, OntarioK1A 0A6

I am writing to all members of Canadian Parliaments on behalf of International Federation of Iranian Refugees-Vancouver Branch to ask for help to free Mr.Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei).His life is in danger.Please respond immediately by contacting Japan Embassy in Ottawa.255 Sussex DriveOttawa, ONK1N 9E6(613) 241-8541

Thursday, 25 March 2010

As part of the global action day for Jamal Saberi on Wednesday 31 March 2010, there will be a protest opposite the Japanese embassy in London from 4-6pm by the Free Jamal! campaign.

Address: 101-104 Piccadilly, London W1J 7JTclosest tube: Green Park

Please support Jamal and join us. If you can't come, please call,fax or email the embassy on that day to add extra momentum to the campaign and please let us know about your messages to the Japanese embassy. The contact details for the Japanese embassy are: Tel: 020 74656500 (just say you wish to speak to someone about Jamal Saberi (Jalal Ahmadzade-Nouei)Fax: 02074919348Email: info@jpembassy.org.uk

To the Honorary Consul General of Japan, Mr. Gregory A. Boyko, and the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston,

I am writing you on behalf of prominent Iranian dissident and human rights activist Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei), a resident of Japan for the past 18 years. I understand that he is not a legal resident of Japan, and he is facing deportation, however sending this man back to Iran is likely a death sentence. This would be in violation of Japanese and international law. Japan’s effort to forcibly return Saberi violates the principle of non-refoulement: “no refugee should be returned in any manner whatsoever to any country where he or she would be at risk of persecution.” Japan has signed the Convention and Protocol on the Status of Refugees, where this principle in enshrined.

Mr. Saberi is a well known, vocal, and published critic of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian regime has a history of imprisoning or executing voices of dissent, and this has never been more true than within the last year.

The Japanese people are a peaceful, honorable people, whom I have always held in the highest regard. Please grant Mr. Saberi refugee status, which he deserves under UN convention, or find another option besides deportation to Iran.

Mission Free Iran is staging another protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Washington DC (2520 Massachusetts Ave NW) on Sunday March 28st at 3pm to demand a halt to the deportation proceedings against Mr. Jamal Saberi, a vocal and long-time activist against the depredations of the Islamic Republic. Click here for more info

Please read the Open Letter to the Japanese people by Maria Rohaly from Mission Free Iran:

Dear Friends in Japan,

As you are aware, the Islamic Republic continues to openly arrest, torture and execute political activists within its borders. What you may not be aware of is that the Islamic regime has been seeking international assistance in capturing and silencing anti-regime activists living abroad. In a move that has surprised many of us, we have learned that the Japanese government is supporting the Islamic Republic’s efforts by initiating deportation procedures against prominent Iranian dissident and human rights activist Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei), a resident of Japan for the past 20 years.

Japan’s effort to forcibly return an Iranian political activist constitutes a violation of the international principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits forcibly returning a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened. Mr. Saberi has a well-founded fear of persecution by the Islamic regime: if he is returned there is no question that he, like all other dissidents who fall into the hands of this regime will be detained, tortured, and likely executed. He therefore warrants recognition as a political refugee and merits protections under UN agreements on the Status of Refugees, to which Japan is a signatory.

The Saberi case has global implications: If Japan flouts human rights standards and international principles on the status of refugees, consequences for refugees worldwide will be dire. We consider especially the impact of Japan’s actions on thousands of new Iranian refugees surviving precariously in Turkey, which has in the past violated the principle of non-refoulement and has begun systematic though unofficial persecution of this new wave of Iranian refugees.

By this open letter, we are making a citizen-to-citizen request of the Japanese people to demand that their government adhere to their international and domestic legal commitments to the principle of non-refoulement, release Saberi from prison, stop the deportation proceedings, and grant Mr. Saberi the refugee status that he has long ago applied for.

If the Japanese government delivers Saberi into the hands of the Islamic Republic, Japan will be held responsible not only for Saberi’s inevitable torture and execution in Iran, but for setting a barbaric and inhumane precedent that will have dire consequences for all of the world’s asylum-seekers.

We hope that the Japanese people will join with the global peoples’ movement that demands that Saberi be freed and recognized as a refugee from a murderous government, and as a human being.

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

At a follow-up visit to the Japanese embassy in London today, Bahram Soroush (IFIR) and myself saw First Secretary of the embassy Mr Yokote.

He told us that he had contacted the Japanese immigration authorities who are part of the Ministry of Justice in Japan to enquire about Jamal’s case and he said that the ‘experts on Iran’ saw no compelling reason not to deport Jamal. We explained to him the extent of Jamal’s political activities in the public and the danger he faces if he were to be returned to Iran. We talked at length about the human rights situation in Iran and Mr Yokote assured us that the Japanese government is aware and concerned about the situation. He vehemently denied any underhand dealings with the Iranian regime or any kind of pressure that Japan might be under from Iran. He stressed that Japan is not like Iran and that Japan is a democratic country.

However, the only advice he had for us was to complain via the official channels in Japan. We asked him to relay our demands for Jamal to the Japanese government. We also informed him about the global day of action for Jamal and announced our presence in front of the embassy on 31 March.

Tuesday, 23 March 2010

Global Day of Action against the anti-refugee policies of the Japanese government 31 March 2010

The Free Jamal! campaign announces 31 March 2010 a Global Day of Action against Japanese anti-refugee policies to coincide with the end of UN Special Rapporteur Jorge Bustamante’s mission to observe the human rights situation of migrants in the country and his scheduled press conference on that day in Tokyo.

Free Jamal! calls on all members and supporters of the campaign to hold demonstrations in front of Japanese embassies and consulates on 31 March to express their strongest objection at the Japanese government’s treatment of refugees.

Free Jamal! supports the struggle and the demands of thousands who are detained in the prisons of the Japanese Immigration Authorities and are highlighting the treatment of Jamal Saberi - a well-known women, worker and human rights’ activist for the people of Iran - by the Japanese Ministry of justice as a clear example of the unjust behaviour by the Japanese government towards refugees.

Free Jamal! demands the immediate release of Jamal Saberi, the repeal of his deportation order and that Japan must grant him refugee status.

Special representative of the Free Jamal! campaign, Farshad Hosseini, will be present in Tokyo next week to support the Global Day of Action locally.

The Japanese government and its Ministry of Justice should be aware that the whole world is watching their misbehaviour towards refugees and migrants, including Jamal Saberi who has been at the frontline of defending refugee rights in Japan for 18 years.

On 31 March Japanese officials will recognise that intending to deport Jamal Saberi as well as any underhand dealings with the Islamic Republic of Iran will be exposed and will cost Japan dearly as a consequence. The Free Jamal! campaign with all its members and supporters are determined to free Jamal Saberi and to realise all demands.

Monday, 22 March 2010

Read below the letter of protest that the organisation 'No One is Illegal' has sent to the Japanese consulate in Toronto, Canada:

Consulate General of Japan

77 King Street West
Toronto, ON M5K 1A1
(416) 363-7038

To whom this may concern:

Mr. Jamal Saberi is a valuable member of Japanese society, having contributed for many years in social and political work. Since 1992, he has been an active member of the Worker-Communist Party of Iran, printing and distributing WPI literature as well as writing several articles against the Islamic regime of Iran, published in both Persian and Japanese magazines and websites.

His political dedication towards denouncing the oppressive Iranian regime both support International condemnation of Iran’s conduct towards opposition parties as well as civilians, and in so doing, has also come to be a threat to this very regime. It is well documented that his deportation to Iran could result not only in torture but in his very death.

As an organization that opposes the inhumane deportation of political activists around the world, No One Is Illegal Toronto urges the Japanese Government to uphold UNHRC protocol of Human Rights and both cancel his deportation order as well as grant him the Refugee Asylum status he has applied for since May 10, 2001. Supporting the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, NOII-Toronto considers the forcible return of Iranian political activists to be a violation of the principle of non-refoulement. This principle prohibits the forcible return of a person to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened and is binding upon all states. Japan is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which prohibits torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

No One Is Illegal-Toronto recognizes the immediate threat to Mr. Jamal Saberi’s life, an undeniable consequence should he be deported to Iran. We, as members of a broad network of international immigrant and activist rights groups, urge the Japanese government to uphold its obligations under the United Nation’s Human Rights Charter and grant Mr. Saberi immediate Asylum status.

Sunday, 21 March 2010

This is the report from Mehran Mahbobi of the Toronto campaign visit to the Japanese consulate on 19 March 2010:

We went to the Japanese Consulate today, 19 March 2010, for the case of Jamal Saberi. We took informational materials from the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) and a letter from No One is Illegal to protest Jamal’s detention with intent to be deported to Iran.

Mr. Koga from the Japanese Consulate invited us to sit down and talk, but tried to make us forget about Jamal and just amuse us with anything else except Jamal Saberi. He did not let us take pictures or film. He interrupted our colleagues any time they tried to talk about Jamal Saberi. But we were able to make ourselves clear about the case and what we are doing at the end.

We gave them a deadline of Monday March 22 to get response from Japan. Mr. Koga said there might be no response at all. I said no response is also a response, and we shall look forward for that too. I also said that to be deported and sentenced to execution by IRI is one thing, and this killing process that the Japanese authorities have done to Jamal, who has had two heart attacks by the age of 42, with a third one on the way, is also another thing. I called that a killing process that they have done to Jamal Saberi and all other Iranian Refugees especially, and mentioned that we know there are more than 300 Iranian dissidents in jail in Japan right now and all of them have applied for refugee status with no answer.

At the end, he tried to put us off from trying more just because there might be probably no answer from Japan at all. As I warned them that we would be there every day till Jamal is free, especially while his health situation is critical and might have third heart attacks after two other ones because of the hardship he has been through in Japan. He was illegally living there with so much pressure from underpaid work and trying to be active against the Islamic Republic for 20 years at the same time. I said to them if there would be other heart attacks and because of that he dies of it, that would be counted as a criminal act directly by Japanese government and we shall pursue it through International Court. He then said he would try to contact the justice minister and police authorities to pass on all information he got from us. He wanted to explain more about formality and asked us for more time but we said we shall be back on a daily basis till Jamal is free and we have to go now which we did and he promised if he gets any news from Japan he would contact us by telephone and let us know.

We were three gentlemen: Iraj Rezai, chairman of IFIR in east of Canada; Mohamad Kazemi as member of “No One Illegal” and IFIR, and I, Mehran Mahbobi, a freelance video clip taker and a refugee member of IFIR.

Friday, 19 March 2010

Members and supporters of the Free Jamal! 2010 campaign have this week lobbied Japanese embassies and consulates in Europe, Canada and the US to demand the release of Jamal Saberi (Jalal Ahmadzade-Nouei) from detention in Japan and to revoke his deportation order to Iran.

Monday 15 March

Frankfurt, Germany - Shahnaz Moratab (IFIR) and Roya Bahrani from Iran Solidarity went to the consulate to meet Mr Jironishi Mura. After briefing Mr Mura on Jamal Saberi’s case and handing him protest letters from IFIR Mr Mura said he was committed to talk to the Japanese authorities about the case.

Berlin - Farzaneh Drakhshan contacted the Japanese embassy and sent protest letters, demanding the immediate release of Jamal and to stop his deportation order.

Düsseldorf - Mina Ahadi, Shahla Khabazadeh, Mahbube Siamardi and Ali Moradi went to the consulate and were informed that the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of Jamal Saberi’s case. The delegation demanded that steps for Jamal Saberi’s release were taken immediately.

Hamburg - Nazanin Borumand contacted the consulate in Hamburg and presented protest letters and case information to the consulate.

Copenhagen, Denmark - A group of supporters held a protest in front of the Japanese embassy in Copenhagen. Farideh Arman, spokesperson of the group met with two diplomats from the embassy and handed them protest letters from IFIR and the Worker-communist Party of Iran. They followed this up with another contact on 16th.

Vancouver, Canada - Fahimeh Sadaghi and Solyman Sigarchi went to the consulate and spoke to Mr Sasaki. They presented the protest letters and press releases of the campaign as well as the protest letter from the Free Jamal! campaign. They talked to Mr Sasaki in detail about Jamal’s situation and what could happen to him if he were to be deported to Iran. Mr Sasaki said that he would speak to the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about Jamal’s case.

London, UK - Jalil Jalili and Patty Debonitas, campaign organiser, went to the embassy in London. They presented the Free Jamal! file with letters of protest from the campaign and other organisations, press releases and photos of Jamal’s political activities to the chief of security. Patty Debonitas had spoken to First Secretary of the embassy, Mr Yokote on 12 March who had inquired with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and could only confirm that Jamal’s deportation was still planned to go ahead.

Lyons, France - Yadi Kouhi (IFIR) contacted the consulate and sent protest letters and information on Jamal’s case and asked that these be forwarded to the Japanese authorities.

Stockholm, Sweden - Siamak Bahari for Federation of Stockholm contacted Ms Yuchida from the Japanese embassy in Stockholm on 11 March and subsequently sent her the IFIR protest letter and information on the case.

Wednesday 17 MarchToronto, Canada - At a meeting of the ‘No one is illegal’ campaign organisation, Iraj Rezaie and Mohammad Kazemi presented Jamal Saberi’s case. Following this ‘No one is illegal’ sent a protest letter to the Canadian embassy in Japan. Mehrane Mahboubi has contacted the consulate in Toronto for a meeting.

Thursday 18 MarchThe Hague, Holland - Farshad Hosseini and Fereshteh Moradi (IFIR) went to the embassy and spoke to a diplomat from the political section. They were informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware of Jamal’s case and that his case is a political issue. The diplomat expressed his optimism that Jamal Saberi would not be deported but stated that Jamal’s refugee status in Japan would be decided by the Ministry of Justice.

Still to come this week is the protest in support of Jamal Saberi on Sunday, 21 March in front of the Japanese embassy in Washington DC, USA at 1pm, organised by Mission Free Iran.

Other news:Over 500 people have now sent letters to the Ministry of Justice and the UNHCR representation in Japan. In addition dozens of people have sent letters, faxes and made calls to their local embassies and consulates protesting at the detention and intended deportation of Jamal Saberi.

Monday, 15 March 2010

Members and supporters of the Free Jamal! 2010 campaign have today lobbied Japanese embassies and consulates to release Jamal Saberi (Jalal Ahmadzade-Nouei) from detention in Japan and save him from deportation to Iran.

In the UK Jalil Jalili and Patty Debonitas, campaign organiser, went to the Japanese embassy in London to speak to the ambassador. They presented the Free Jamal! file with letters of protest from the campaign and other organisations, press releases and photos of Jamal’s political activities. They were seen by the Head of Security but unfortunately neither the ambassador nor the first secretary of the embassy were available to meet them.

In Germany campaigners went to the consulates in Hamburg, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt and the embassy in Berlin. Some campaigners held a protest in front of the Japanese embassy in Copenhagen. Japanese ambassadors and consuls in Vancouver, Stockholm, Paris, Lyons and Holland are also being lobbied. More details on the individual countries to follow.

More meetings and protests at Japanese embassies and consulates have been planned for the coming week.

Mission Free Iran is supporting the Free Jamal! campaign by organising a protest in Washington on 21 March 2010 in front of the Japanese embassy.

Saturday, 13 March 2010

Iranian activist detained and in danger of imminent deportation to Iran

The International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) has set up the Free Jamal! 2010 campaign to save the Iranian activist Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) from deportation to Iran.

IFIR today urged the Japanese government to release Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) immediately and to revoke his deportation order.

Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) is a 42-year-old, Iranian born, activist who is a public and outspoken opponent of the theocratic regime in Iran. In 1990 he moved to Japan and since 1992 he has been active in opposing the Islamic Republic of Iran publicly. His political activities and promotion of human rights had brought him to the attention of the Islamic Republic’s authorities. Thus Mr Saberi applied for political asylum in Japan in May 2001 which was refused in May 2002. IFIR was informed by Mr Saberi’s lawyer that he was arrested and detained by the Japanese Immigration Authorities on 4th March 2010 with the intention of deporting him to Iran.

Abdolah Assadi, Executive Director of IFIR said in a statement: ‘We are trying our best to rally the public opinion against the Japanese government and its blatant violation of Jamal’s human rights. We, therefore, hereby declare that as far as we are concerned the Japanese government will be responsible for any harm that, we have no doubt, will jeopardize Jamal Saberi’s life and/or safety.’

The Free Jamal! campaign has organised a day of lobbying Japanese embassies and consulates around the world for Monday, March 15. Its automated online service has already been used by over 400 people to send a letter of protest to the Japanese Ministry of Justice and the UNHCR representation in Japan. In addition several hundred people have sent protest letters to Japanese embassies and consulates across the world.

Free Jamal! campaign organiser Patty Debonitas said today: ‘It’s unbelievable that after having seen what happens to opponents inside Iran anyone would even consider returning someone like Mr Saberi, with his very public profile of opposition, to Iran. People across the world were able to witness the human rights abuses by the Islamic Republic, particularly over the last ten months. I wonder how the Japanese authorities can think it in any way safe or justifiable to return Mr Saberi to Iran. This would no doubt mean certain threat to his life and safety.’

The Free Jamal! campaign has set three goals for its campaign. It wants to get Mr Saberi out of detention immediately and get his deportation order revoked. Patty Debonitas: ‘The next step will be helping him obtaining and leading a normal life. Mr Saberi has been in Japan for twenty years and has applied for asylum 9 years ago. It is time he can feel safe and protected by granting him refugee status.’------------------------------------------------Note to Editors:1) IFIR is an international non-governmental organization with over 42-branches in 16 countries worldwide which advocates promoting and protecting the rights of Iranian refugees and asylum seekers; provides evidentiary support through its Documentation Center; and provides referrals for services.

Wednesday, 10 March 2010

To Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and defenders of refugee rights across the world

Jalal Ahmadzade-Nouei, alias Jamal Saberi, political activist opposing the Islamic regime in Iran, has been arrested by the Japanese police to be deported to Iran.

Jalam Saberi left Iran for Japan in 1990. In 1992 he joined the Worker-communist Party of Iran (WPI), and began his party-political activities in Japan against the violation of human rights in Iran. As a member of WPI, an ardent Iranian opposition party, Jamal wrote many articles against Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular, as well as political Islam, in general. He also wrote articles exposing Japan’s diplomatic relations with the Iranian regime. Several of his writings have appeared in the Japanese press as well as Iranian publications such as Hambastegi (organ of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees – IFIR) and Javanan-e Komonist (organ of Communist Youth Organization). He applied for refugee status in Japan on May 28, 2002. His application was turned down by the Immigration Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Justice on March 28, 2002. He appealed this decision in April of the same year. The appeal was rejected, and the Japanese police issued an order for his arrest and deportation. Jamal was arrested in late October 2003 and transported to the Immigration Bureau’s detention center, where he was kept for one year. By the time he was arrested Jamal had become a popular human rights activist among the Left organizations, human rights organizations and the trade unions. So, naturally, his detention was protested by several such organizations, which finally succeeded in preventing his deportation.

Yet the Japanese government never accepted Jamal as a refugee, nor did the UNHCR made any efforts to assist such a well-known figure. Now, Jamal’s lawyer has said that this time he is in danger of being deported to Iran.

There are many human rights organizations that are well acquainted with Jamal Saberi’s political background in fighting the Islamist regime in Iran. Since his joining WPI in 1992, Jamal has organized and led tens of rallies and demonstrations against violation of human rights in Iran. These Jamal’s activities are well documented in Japan, and many human rights organizations are familiar with his name as a remarkable active opponent of the Iranian regime. Last year he even received threats from the Iranian thugs, aka diplomats, in Japan. These facts go to show Jamal’s present political situation and the imminent perils that threaten his life.

We are now writing to relay the news of Jamal’s detention by the Japanese police and give voice to his protest at international level. We are trying our best to rally the public opinion against the Japanese government and its blatant violation of Jamal’s human rights. We, therefore, hereby declare that as far as we are concerned the Japanese government will be responsible for any harm that, we have no doubt, will jeopardize Jamal Saberi’s life and/or safety.

The murderous Islamist regime in Teheran is now eagerly awaiting Jamal’s return to Iran as a prey. Jamal is now sitting on deportation row in Japan. Let us not allow the Japanese government to deport him back to Iran so that the tyrannical regime Islamist regime can put him against the wall as it has done in the case of tens of thousands of the most honorable people before him. We, at the International Federation of Iranian Refugees, urge all organizations that receive this letter to take immediate action to save Jamal Saberi from deportation to Iran. We request that they expressly demand that the Japanese government release Jamal from jail, revoke his deportation order, and take appropriate measures to protect his life in Japan.

The Free Jamal! 2010 campaign has been set up by the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) to save Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) from deportation to Iran and certain danger to his safety and life.

The campaign has 3 goals:

1. To get Jamal Saberi released from detention immediately

2. To stop his deportation order

3. To grant him refugee status

Background:

Jamal Saberi (Jalal Amanzadeh Nouei) is a 42 year-old Iranian born man who moved to Japan in 1990.In 1992 he started his political activities with a focus on human rights and publicising the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses. He is a public and outspoken opponent of the theocratic regime in Iran and his political activities and promotion of human rights had brought him to the attention of the Islamic Republic’s authorities. Thus Mr Saberi applied for political asylum in Japan in May 2002.

Mr. Saberi was arrested and detained by the Japanese Immigration Authorities on March 4, 2010 with the aim of deporting him to Iran.

IFIR has set up the Free Jamal! 2010 campaign to save Jamal Saberi from deportation to Iran as this would mean certain threat to his life and safety.

The campaign will include mobilising its members and supporters across the world and will focus on Japanese authorities but also its embassies across the world, to save Mr Saberi from deportation to Iran.

We are calling on all individuals and organisations to support Jamal Saberi in the fight to stop his deportation!